Chelsea ponder a final bid of £40 million to prise midfielder Luka Modric away from Tottenham

Modric held a two-hour meeting yesterday with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and emphatically restated his desire not to play for the club again. He told Levy once more that he wanted to join Chelsea before the transfer window closes.

Although Levy again stressed he would not enter into negotiations over a sale, it is understood there may be a price that he would consider given Modric will not change his mind.

Chelsea have offered £22million, then £27million and — last Sunday – £30million for Modric and a vastly improved final bid of £40 million might just be enough to persuade Spurs to sell.It may well be that Levy hopes to receive other offers for Modric – there has been interest from Manchester United – although the Croatian has made it plain he would prefer to stay in London.